Anxiety after Dexamethasone in dogs

The FDA has received 60 reports of anxiety in dogs after Dexamethasone. That is 2.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.5% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

60Reports

63%Marked serious

28%Recovered

12%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 38%

1–2 days

8 15%

3–7 days

1 1.9%

1–4 weeks

7 13%

Over a month

16 31%

How the animals did

Recovered

17 28%

Still unwell when reported

21 35%

Died

1 1.7%

Euthanised

6 10%

Not known

15 25%

Problems reported at the same time

25 42%

24 40%

20 33%

16 27%

15 25%

14 23%

Restlessness or agitation

13 22%

Swelling

13 22%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Dexamethasone reduces inflammation and immune activity.

Steroids commonly cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, especially at higher doses.

Questions owners ask

Can Dexamethasone cause anxiety in dogs?: 60 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 2 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Anxiety with similar medicines

Anxiety after Prednisone 134 reports · 1.5% of its reports
Anxiety after Prednisolone + Trimeprazine 22 reports · 1.1% of its reports
Anxiety after Prednisolone 22 reports · 1.8% of its reports

All reported side effects of Dexamethasone in dogs · Medicines most reported with anxiety